by K. A Knight
“You, Piper, are my pascha, the one I have been waiting for. I would follow you into the gates of hell. I trust you, your honour, and courage, little warrior. Lead us home.”
Trooping through the mountain pass with over three hundred warriors behind me is an experience all right. I can feel their eyes on me as I lead them, followed by my men. It takes us just an hour to reach the crevice, but another hour to get all my warriors through it one by one. Once we are on the other side of the mountain, looking down at the green of my home below, something settles inside me.
I wait for them to gather behind me before beginning our trek down the mountain. We run into Simon and Trev who are waiting for us, obviously seeing us coming. They stand next to my house at the base, their faces covered in shock, but they quickly recover and smile at me. Simon embraces me like normal, while Trev just shakes his head.
“Should have known you could do it.” He laughs, his eyes sparkling. “Come, tonight they can all rest and eat here, tomorrow you can set off with all your warriors and ours to the war. Tonight, Piper, we celebrate.”
I have never seen the camp so full. There are mountain men spread everywhere. They watch everything with a strange intensity, sticking together on the outskirts, but at least they are here. The Forgotten people seem terrified of them, but me? Not so much. I trot over to a big group of them and smile with handmade alcohol clutched in my hand.
“You know, you could smile. Make yourself more approachable, show off a little, maybe get laid. We are going to war, after all,” I tease. They continue to stare at me, so I sigh and crouch down, meeting them head-on. “Huddle up, warriors,” I command, and they all instantly move closer. “Mingle, have fun, do whatever you want tonight. That’s an order from your pascha. Tomorrow we leave and might never come back, don’t waste another second. Is that understood, warriors?” I demand, my eyes narrowed, meeting each and every one of their gazes that I can.
“Yes, Pascha,” they call, and I fist bump the one I can reach.
“Good, go,” I order and get to my feet, sipping my drink as I watch them brace themselves and join the festivities.
The moon is full above me, the trees swaying in the breeze, the fires of the perimeter strong. I watch everyone laughing, having fun, even my men, and a smile curves my lips. They deserve this night, they deserve this forever, but sometimes you have to fight for what you want.
It’s a sordid reminder that I am the reason these men, these people, might die. Their blood will be on my hands, and with that I don’t feel like celebrating anymore, so I down my cup and slip away into the trees to check the perimeter, to take over for someone who wants to participate. I blend into the dark, moving through the trees on silent feet and letting the quiet soothe me as I venture deeper than ever before. I don’t stop at our normal patrol routes, I keep going, hiking up an incline until I find a massive boulder at the base of the mountain, high enough that it looks out over the land and trees. Climbing it, I sit cross-legged, staring out at the Wastes before glancing back at the fires of my home.
Blowing out a breath, I lie down, my hands beside me, and watch the moon and stars above. My parents used to tell me tales of cities so big and high you couldn’t even see the stars anymore, something called pollution, but here, now? They shine bright, the night sky filled with them. Who knows, maybe the earth is recovering.
Healing.
Maybe all it took was a mighty fall, wiping out the humans who hurt it until only the strong survived.
I can understand that.
I let my thoughts float away, my head empty for once as I stare up at those stars. I feel close to my parents for a moment and my heart flip-flops. I wonder if they would be proud if they could see me now.
“Leaders seek solace with the gods and Earth before a battle. Is that what you are doing, little warrior?” comes a rough voice, and I grin as I sit up and turn around, trying to spot my mountain man. But I can’t.
Not until he breaks away from the rocks down below a little, blending there so completely I skipped over him. How long has he been there? I don’t ask, it doesn’t matter.
“In a way, just having a moment before the madness of the next few days. Who knows what will happen or if I will even survive it, I just wanted to spend one more minute in this world.” I shrug and he nods, leaping and landing onto the boulder next to me, the move so smooth I laugh. He sits down beside me, his feet dangling over the edge of the rock, and I go back to lying down, staring at the sky. His presence is comforting and quiet, just like I was craving. He is so close his arm brushes mine, but he doesn’t move away and neither do I.
“You said you would follow me, why, because I am a pascha now?” I query curiously.
He turns to me, his mismatched eyes locking onto mine. “No.”
“Then why?” I press, tilting my head to see him better, our fingers so close now I could reach out and twine them.
“Because you are a true warrior, I saw a spark in you. One that won’t be put out, one I have been searching for since I was a child. You remind me of why I fight, Piper. What it means to be a warrior. I follow you because in your presence I feel something I never have before.”
“What’s that?” I whisper, searching his eyes, my heart racing, stomach clenching.
“Love.”
My eyes fly wide and he grins. “I see the way you are with those men and your people. You love so deeply, so freely, expecting nothing in return. It’s so beautiful, so simple, and it kindles a yearning in me,” he growls, smashing his fist into his chest. “In here, to find that, to find somewhere to belong, and I think I have…here at your side, wherever that leads me.”
What do I say to that?
I dart my tongue out to dampen my lips, and he tracks the movement with his eyes before reaching out and brushing his thumb across the path my tongue just took. My breath catches in my throat as I watch him. This fierce mountain man surprises me at every turn. He admits he’s looking for love, someone to hold…after all, isn’t everyone?
“You always have had a destiny, little warrior, everyone on this earth does. And I think mine is you.”
“You should trade yours in,” I joke. “You got a bad deal there.”
He smiles slowly but doesn’t answer me, just turns back to the stars and looks at them. So I do the same, but my heart skips a beat when he finally crosses the distance I wasn’t brave enough to, and covers my hand with his rough, warm, bigger one.
“You will do great things, Piper, and I will be there to see it,” he murmurs to the sky, like a declaration, and I shiver from the force. This man is something else. Just like the others, he appeals to me in a way I can’t describe, but I feel guilty for wanting him, even if the guys didn’t seem to mind.
They each feel like a piece of my puzzle, slotting back into place.
I turn my head, my gaze searching his face to find answers to questions I don’t even know how to ask. He turns and catches me staring, his eyes dropping to my lips once again as I suck in a breath, almost shivering from that look alone.
In his eyes, I see a question. I could turn away now and he wouldn’t try, but I don’t want to. My own words to my warriors echo through me. This could be one of my last nights on earth. I don’t want to die with regrets, and not letting Clay kiss me? That would be a regret. So I gather my courage and lean towards him as he closes the gap, tilting his head down. His eyes remain on me the whole time, checking that I’m sure...until our lips first touch, and then he groans and closes them, cutting me off from the power of his mismatched gaze.
His mouth parts as I trace my tongue along his plump lips and sweep it inside his mouth, his own tangling with mine. Clay’s big hand grips the back of my head as he kisses me desperately, but so sure, so confident...owning me.
Like I was made to be his.
I moan into his kiss, leaning into his wide chest and soaking up his warmth as he dominates my mouth, licking and sucking and kissing me with such ferocity, I have to clamp my le
gs together. Need, one so strong, rushes through me, and it’s the most natural thing in the world to get to my knees without breaking our kiss and swing my leg over his lap until I am straddling him.
He angles his head up as his hands come to rest on my hips, grasping the skin there as he drags me higher up his thighs until I am perched on his hard, thick cock. We both groan then, swallowing each other’s sound of need. This isn’t a first kiss, this is a last kiss. For him at least. I can tell in the way he touches me, he doesn’t plan on letting me go.
I hear a noise, a clearing of a throat, and we break away. I scramble to my feet and look around, breathing heavily, my heart racing and pussy wet. Clay stands next to me, sword out and ready, but we both relax when my shadow breaks away from a tree, and strolls out into the open with a shit-eating grin. Guilt cuts through me for a moment, but he winks to let me know it’s okay, he’s okay with what he saw.
“So here you guys are, come on, mountain weirdos, they are playing a game, and if we have to then you have to,” Archel calls.
I smile at Clay, and he jumps down from the rock and reaches up, helping me down, his hands on my hips, lingering there for a moment longer than necessary when my feet touch the ground. His kiss still fresh in my mind.
“Let’s rejoin our people,” he murmurs and I nod.
We spend the rest of the night drinking, laughing, and playing games. I even get Archel to sing for us, and we stumble back to our hut, squeezing into my bed…apart from Clay, who insists he is fine on the floor.
Tomorrow comes all too soon.
Twenty-Five
Fucking Delight
“Are all the warriors accounted for?” I call again.
“Yes, little warrior,” Clay responds.
“Do we have all the medical equipment we need?” I blurt.
“Yes, Pip.” Evan huffs, even though I’ve asked him eight times already.
I turn to Archel and Jago, and Jago’s eyes narrow as I open my mouth, and before I know it his hand is covering my lips. “Hush, Brawler, we have everything. Everyone is here. We are ready, just breathe,” he orders. So of course I lick his hand, making his lips quirk as he pulls it back.
“Breathe, yeah, I can do that.” I nod, sucking in big lungfuls of air and ignoring the nerves rattling around my body and my mind, which is going a hundred miles an hour, shooting out random questions and thoughts faster than I can even speak. “There was this one time, there were like four of us playing hide and seek. Two boys and another girl, the girl wanted the boy who was trying to catch me, stupid Cathy, didn’t she know Tommy only wanted me? Anyway, we were playing hide and seek, and I got so excited and nervous I forgot to breathe. So there I was, hiding and not breathing until I eventually passed out, hidden behind this plant, you know? Someone ended up walking past and finding me and freaked out, thinking I had crawled behind this plant and just died.” I nod and then suck in a breath. “Long story short, breathing is good, Cathy is stupid.”
They are all just staring at me, mouths open and moving as if they don’t know how to respond. My excessive breathing is the only sound between us until Archel starts laughing. “I seriously never know what you are going to do or say, Princess.”
“Because I’m a fucking delight.” I grin and turn to face everyone waiting for my orders. We have to take the trucks we brought here, it’s the only way to transport all of our new warriors. They seemed concerned at first about riding in what one of them dubbed a ‘metal beast,’ but Clay told them to warrior up…or something more inspirational. We have four trucks, ten bikes, and three jeeps all waiting to go. Not including my men and I, there are over five hundred warriors in total. I hope it’s enough.
Some of The Forgotten chose to come with us, Simon being one of them. Watching them say goodbye to their families made just how much I’m asking of them hit home, but it’s too late to turn around now. At least I am not asking them anything that I am not willing to do myself.
Life or death, we all do it together now.
No Lost, no Forgotten. Just one.
Huh, maybe we need a new name if we survive this, I think idly before shaking my head. I try to whistle, but fail, so I look over and Archel does it for me. All eyes turn to me, my mountain men stopping where they were beginning to climb into the trucks. It goes quiet and I take a deep breath, and with Jago’s help, I hop up onto a jeep’s bonnet to be seen easier.
“By tomorrow, we will reach the front line. The drive will be long and tiring with nothing to distract our minds, but the day after will be even longer. I’m asking for a big sacrifice, I know that. I know we won’t all make it back, this is war. But know that anyone who fights with us, for us, you are fighting not just for me but for our people. For a future for the children still to come, so they can live in peace, so they can grow up in a free world, not one in chains. Yes, I’m asking a lot, but know that the outcome will be worth it. We are leaving now, so look around, say goodbye, memorise the faces you leave behind and take them with us. It could be the last time you do. For anyone who is scared, know that I am too, but it is not fear that makes us weak, it’s the very fact that we keep going in spite of it that makes us strong. Keep fighting.” I suck in a breath now, scanning the gathered crowd of men and women. In the middle I meet Trev’s eyes and see the pride there and it strengthens me. “I want to thank you for taking me in, for giving me a home when I had none. I promise you, I won’t stop fighting until our home is safe,” I vow in front of everyone, and a cheer goes up as the trucks start. “We leave, so for anyone having second thoughts, know there is no shame in staying behind, but the time is now.” I meet every eye I can. “For our home!” I call, and raise my crossbow as a chant goes up.
I turn around and take the hands of my assassin and doctor. They help me down, pride and love shining in their eyes.
“Let’s go, Princess.” Archel grins. “Knew your mouth was good for something.” He winks.
“Fuck, you’re crazy, Pip, but I guess I am too.” Evan laughs nervously.
“We got this, Team Piper for the win!” I tease, and they all groan as we head to the bikes at the front. Evan and Archel ride one, Clay is on another, and Jago and I are on the last...leading the way.
Leading my army.
We travel all day without stopping, only halting our journey when the moon is in the sky. We have massive numbers, so we don’t try and hide, plus most people are heading to the front line now anyway. I do set up a perimeter though, because you can never be too careful. One of the perks of being a leader is that I don’t have to take watch at least. Instead, we erect Worth’s tent before joining my warriors outside.
They build fires and we all share a meal, someone starts to sing, another starts to play a guitar, and soon people are drinking and dancing. Some of The Lost even sing in a foreign language so beautiful that it brings tears to my eyes. Clay sits beside me, crooning in my ear in translation until I am panting with need from his proximity and voice alone.
The more I think of what’s to come, the more fear takes over, and I have this need to be with my men. To touch them, kiss them, feel them in my body and prove to myself that they are here. That they are alive and with me. I don’t want to think about it possibly being the last time or that I might lose one of them, or I might just chicken out and turn around to protect them.
I don’t know how my men know, but they do, and their eyes turn to me filled with the same hunger and urgency, so I get to my feet, feeling powerful as they watch my every move, their bodies taut and ready to leap at me. With a wink, I turn and saunter back to our tent, feeling the flames of the fire dying away and the chill of the night taking over, sending a shiver down my back.
I am being hunted. I can feel it.
But this time, I want to be their prey.
I push through the tent and stand in the middle, my chest heaving from anticipation, my neck crawling with awareness as my fists clench together at my sides, waiting. Licking my lips, I tremble when a cool breeze brus
hes across my back before being replaced by a scorching heat, a body pressing against me. I don’t know whose, I don’t care. I’m a greedy bitch, I want them all tonight.
Tonight isn’t the night for arguments or jealousy, it’s the night to feel alive and human...to give into our desires. Our love.
Lips run along my neck, making me gasp at the heightened sensation of it. So sensual, maybe the fear and impending doom is making it all feel like...more. I fight the urge to turn my head and meet those exploring lips as I feel someone else stroke my side, then another set of hands joins to my right. All of their hands are on my body, caressing. Never stopping for long or touching where I need them.
I close my eyes and give in to their teasing, leaning back into the hard body behind me. I can tell now by the feel of him that it’s Jago. His lips trail along the column of my throat, his hand coming around to squeeze my breast before he bites down on my neck and holds me there. I gasp, pain and pleasure shooting through me.
“Don’t get lost in your mind, Brawler, eyes on us.”
How did he know?
I open them and he releases my neck, licking the bite mark lovingly, so achingly soft that I mewl, my own wetness coating my thighs in my trousers, longing for one of them to pay attention to my pussy.
Archel faces me now, his face hungry. Eyes alight. “You might be the pascha out there, but in here, tonight...you’re ours, Princess,” he whispers seductively. His eyes flick to my lips as he traces a hand down my front and cups my pussy through my trousers, making me groan and rub against his hand.
“I didn’t hear her agree,” comes Evan’s teasing tone, and I look down to see him on his knees, his hands warming my ankles as he peers up at me with a cocky smirk. “Did you two?”
“I didn’t, Doc, you are right.” Archel grins, removing his hand from my pussy and tilting my chin up. “Princess, do you agree or do we need to prove it?”